The money the GOP PACS threw into Iowa was designed to blunt Trump so he does not head into New Hampshire with a victory which could start an avalanche of victories for Trump. The GOP establishment needs to have Trump lose in Iowa and propelled Cruz and Rubio to do so.
In my view, Iowa was always Cruz's to lose. The money the GOP PACs spent was to pump up Rubio.
At this point I think the other establishment candidates like Jeb and Cristie are there to serve as spare tires just in case something happens to Rubio.
The choice it seems has been made for Rubio. The establishment has shown its hands now.
LOL. Biggest laugh of the day.
BASS ACKWARDS........establishment was doing everything they could to promote Trump over Cruz. They don’t like either, but they “can do deals” with the Donaldus....they can do ethanol’s scam with the Donald....the lobbyists and donors were flocking to Trump.
You should get out more.
The race has just started—many twists and turns are coming up. The whole scene could change at a moments notice. Don’t count Trump out so soon.
I agree.
But one thing that I could see Rubio do is peel off a huge number of Hispanic voters. If that happens, Hillary Clinton is done.
There’s no denying it, skipping the debate hurt Trump in Iowa. Last night on CNN (I know, I know, it’s CNN, but they actually had pretty unbiased coverage) they mentioned how Cruz an Rubio were splitting the establishment votes and Rubio peeled votes away from Trump.
815 plant.
Trump lost.
Rubio is just what the Establishment on both sides would love.
They both grabbed the star-struck 'Kid' and initiated him into their Gang-of-Eight, molded and shaped him to be just like them.
This is the stupidest thing every written. Is that why Branstad and his lobbyist son risked their credibility (and lost of all it) to defeat Cruz? Brooks is the essence of blue-blood, elitist GOP. He knows the only thing between Rubio and the nomination is Ted Cruz. And you, as a Trump Troll, know that Trump’s numbers are as high as they’ll ever go. The only way he wins is to split the conservative vote.
You made up a headline for an unrelated NYT article to continue to push your utterly delusional theory?! That sort of intentionally dishonest behavior can lead to your dismissal from this forum, though that’s not my call.
The amazing surge for Marco Rubio shows that the Republican electorate has not gone collectively insane. ....................... From the NYT, gee, when they say nice things about a republican candidate and electorate, you know what that means? “HILLARY”.
Conservatives realized your guy is a fraud.
But that’s okay. New York Values are on the ballot next week and moderates like Trump will probably fare better.
And, looking back on it from a post-Iowa perspective, Trump not being at the debate opened the door for Rubio. Now I’m wondering if Fox News intentionally goaded Trump (via Twitter) to get him out of the debate.
On the surface, it looks plausible. Rubio was the surprise winner, so to speak. If Trump has success, and garners the most delegates, with Rubio second or third in delegates, the ticket becomes obvious.
Although Cruz defeated Trump soundly in Iowa, he effectively lost to Rubio.
Exactly right. A Trump win in Iowa would have devastated Cruz’s campaign and set Trump up as the inevitable candidate, which is the worst-case scenario for the GOPe. Now both Cruz and GOPe live to fight Trump another day, but bear in mind that Iowa represents < 1% of the national vote and the caucus-goes a fraction of that.
Congrats to Cruz on the win, but everyone knows it doesn’t mean much, just ask Mike Huckabee who has been there, done that, just 8 sort years ago and now can’t even sustain his candidacy. How quickly political fortunes change!
And by the way, Iowa Evangelicals...if Huck was you man 8 years ago, what’s he done to fall from grace since then? I find Huckabee’s performance in Iowa far more puzzling than Rubios, who is clearly playing the establishement GOP game.
Isn’t the title of the article “Donald Trump Isn’t Real?”
I thought there were rules about that.
Well at least the unipartys’ slimes got the headlines right. Iowa was a huge win for the GOPe. Rubio is now the one to beat.
I dunno, the logic of the GOPe is rather easy to discern. It starts with the premise that they always make the best of the situation. Thus, in seeing that Trump is likely to win they seek to win Trump over to their side. They can get to his immigration stance later but on the other stuff the perceive a guy who is Monty Hall. If they can, they would love to replace Trump with Rubio. But above all, they must destroy Cruz.
Their calculus:
Cruz gone, Donald wins, not bad.
Cruz gone, Trump gone, Rubio wins, excellent!!
Trump gone, Rubio gone, Cruz wins, sell Cruz out in the general at all costs. However you slice it, Cruz will be gone.
Anybody but Trump because the real can be manipulated...including the Canadian preacherman.